U.S. patent application number 10/604289 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for method for identifying detachable cover of a cellular phone.
Invention is credited to Chen, Kuan-Hua, Chen, Liang-Fang, Wang, Tzu-Wei.
Application Number | 20050009579 10/604289 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33564153 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050009579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Kuan-Hua ; et
al. |
January 13, 2005 |
METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING DETACHABLE COVER OF A CELLULAR PHONE
Abstract
A cellular phone includes a housing and a cover detachably
installed on the housing, the cover containing an ID module for
identifying the cover. The cellular phone also contains a
transceiver for controlling operation of the cellular phone, the
transceiver containing a detection port for communicating with the
ID module of the cover and determining identification of the cover,
a memory electrically connected to the transceiver, and a database
stored in the memory for providing operation parameters to the
transceiver according to the identification of the cover.
Inventors: |
Chen, Kuan-Hua; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Wang, Tzu-Wei; (Taipei City, TW) ;
Chen, Liang-Fang; (Tai-Nan City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NAIPO (NORTH AMERICA INTERNATIONAL PATENT OFFICE)
P.O. BOX 506
MERRIFIELD
VA
22116
US
|
Family ID: |
33564153 |
Appl. No.: |
10/604289 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/575.1 ;
455/90.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/575.1 ;
455/090.3 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cellular phone comprising: a housing; a cover detachably
installed on the housing, the cover containing an ID module for
identifying the cover; a transceiver for controlling operation of
the cellular phone, the transceiver containing a detection port for
communicating with the ID module of the cover and determining
identification of the cover; a memory electrically connected to the
transceiver; and a database stored in the memory for providing
operation parameters to the transceiver according to the
identification of the cover.
2. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein the database includes an
acoustic database, the acoustic database providing Finite Impulse
Response (FIR) filter coefficients to the transceiver for improving
acoustics of the cellular phone.
3. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein the database includes a
power amplification database, the power amplification database
providing voltage compensation coefficients to the transceiver for
improving power amplification of the cellular phone.
4. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein the database includes a
Man-Machine Interface (MMI) database, the MMI database providing
user interface attributes to the transceiver according to the
identification of the cover.
5. The cellular phone of claim 4 wherein the MMI database contains
a keypad-mapping configuration corresponding to each cover.
6. The cellular phone of claim 4 wherein the MMI database contains
a set of sound files corresponding to each cover.
7. The cellular phone of claim 4 wherein the MMI database contains
a set of graphical images corresponding to each cover.
8. The cellular phone of claim 4 wherein the MMI database contains
a Light Emitting Diode (LED) configuration corresponding to each
cover.
9. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein the ID module of the cover
contains a unique resistance value for identifying the cover, and
the transceiver measures the resistance for determining the
identification of the cover.
10. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein the detection port of the
transceiver is capable of communicating with the ID module of the
cover in parallel for determining the identification of the
cover.
11. A method of identifying a detachable cover of a cellular phone,
the cellular phone comprising a housing, the method comprising:
providing an ID module on the cover for identifying the cover;
providing a transceiver for controlling operation of the cellular
phone, the transceiver containing a detection port for
communicating with the ID module of the cover and determining
identification of the cover; and identifying the cover with the
detection port.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising searching a database
stored in memory for providing operation parameters and attributes
to the transceiver according to the identification of the
cover.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the database includes an
acoustic database, and the method further comprises searching the
acoustic database for providing Finite Impulse Response (FIR)
filter coefficients to the transceiver for improving acoustics of
the cellular phone.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the database includes a power
amplification database, and the method further comprises searching
the power amplification database for providing voltage compensation
coefficients to the transceiver for improving power amplification
of the cellular phone.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the database includes a
Man-Machine Interface (MMI) database, and the method further
comprises searching the MMI database for providing user interface
attributes to the transceiver according to the identification of
the cover.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the MMI database contains a
keypad-mapping configuration corresponding to each cover.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the MMI database contains a set
of sound files corresponding to each cover.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the MMI database contains a set
of graphical images and a Light Emitting Diode (LED) configuration
corresponding to each cover.
19. The method of claim 11 wherein the ID module of the cover
contains a unique resistance value for identifying the cover, and
the transceiver measures the resistance for determining the
identification of the cover.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the detection port of the
transceiver is capable of communicating with the ID module of the
cover in parallel for determining the identification of the cover.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cellular phone, and more
specifically, to a method for identifying a detachable cover of a
cellular phone and adjusting parameters of the cellular phone
according to the identified cover.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A cellular phone cover is a crucial item in the design of a
cellular phone. In addition to aesthetics, the design of the cover
also affects durability, ability to withstand damage from
electrostatic discharge (ESD), and even wireless performance of the
cellular phone. As a result, all of the major producers of cellular
phones put a great deal of effort into design of the cellular phone
cover.
[0005] Furthermore, since consumers prefer to change the appearance
of their cellular phones, it is now common to find cellular phones
with swappable covers. For example, the Motorola.RTM. C330 series
of cellular phones has three swappable covers with different shapes
and textures that are used to cover the circuitry (such as the
transceiver) of the cellular phone. With this setup, users can
easily and freely change the cover of the cellular phone without
concern for the internal hardware or software of the cellular
phone.
[0006] Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a cellular
phone 10 according to the prior art. The cellular phone 10 contains
an internal housing 20 and a cover 60. Formed on the internal
housing 20 is a speaker 22, a display 24 such as an LCD display, a
backlight Light Emitting Diode (LED) 26, a plurality of keypad
sensors 28, and a microphone 32. Each of these items is well known
in the art, and will be discussed only to the extent that they
apply to the present invention. The cover 60 can be installed on
the internal housing 20, and provides protective and aesthetic
functions to the cellular phone 10. The cover 60 contains a set of
speaker holes 62 for allowing the speaker 22 to be heard through
the cover 60 and a display hole 64 for allowing the display 24 to
be viewed through the cover 60. A plurality of keys 68 is used for
pressing the keypad sensors 28, thereby providing input to the
cellular phone 10. The cover 60 also contains a microphone hole 72
for allowing sound signals to travel through the cover 60 to the
microphone 32.
[0007] Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram
of the cellular phone 10 shown in FIG. 1. A transceiver 34 is used
for controlling operation of the cellular phone 10. The transceiver
34 receives instructions from control software 42 stored in a
memory 40, and controls hardware operations of the cellular phone
10. For example, the transceiver 34 processes input signals from
the keypad sensors 28 and the microphone 32, and sends output
signals to the speaker 22, display 24, and backlight LED 26.
[0008] The transceiver 34 must be fine-tuned for obtaining optimal
performance of the cellular phone 10. Fine-tuning includes
providing acoustic and wireless settings to the transceiver 34 to
maximize performance. However, every time the cover 60 on the
cellular phone 10 is changed, the previously set acoustic and
wireless settings may not be suitable for the new cover 60.
Therefore, the ability to swap the cover 60 of the cellular phone
10 complicates fine-tuning, and requires designers to find settings
for the transceiver 34 that can be used with all of the different
covers available. Unfortunately, with so many covers to consider,
the acoustic and wireless settings are difficult to fine-tune.
Furthermore, even if settings are chosen that can be used
adequately with each of the covers, the chosen settings will still
not give optimal performance for each of the different covers.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention
to provide a cellular phone that can detect the identification of a
cellular phone cover in order to solve the above-mentioned
problems.
[0010] According to the claimed invention, a cellular phone
includes a housing and a cover detachably installed on the housing,
the cover containing an ID module for identifying the cover. The
cellular phone also contains a transceiver for controlling
operation of the cellular phone, the transceiver containing a
detection port for communicating with the ID module of the cover
and determining identification of the cover, a memory electrically
connected to the transceiver, and a database stored in the memory
for providing operation parameters to the transceiver according to
the identification of the cover.
[0011] It is an advantage of the claimed invention that the
cellular phone is able to detect the identification of the cover
and optimize settings of the cellular phone according to the
identity of the cover for optimizing performance of the cellular
phone for each cover used.
[0012] These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a cellular phone according to the
prior art.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the cellular phone
shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a cellular phone according to the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the cellular phone
according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the present invention
method of identifying a cover and updating parameters and
attributes of the cellular phone according to the identity of the
cover.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a first embodiment ID module used to
identify the cover.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment ID module used to
identify the cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a cellular
phone 100 according to the present invention. Like the cellular
phone 10 shown in FIG. 1, the cellular phone 100 has an internal
housing 120 and a swappable cover 160. Formed on the internal
housing 120 is a speaker 122, a display 124, a backlight LED array
126, a plurality of keypad sensors 128, and a microphone 132. The
cover 160 contains a set of speaker holes 162 for allowing the
speaker 122 to be heard through the cover 160 and a display hole
164 for allowing the display 124 to be viewed through the cover
160. A plurality of keys 168 is used for pressing the keypad
sensors 128, thereby providing input to the cellular phone 100. The
cover 160 also contains a microphone hole 172 for allowing sound
signals to travel through the cover 160 to the microphone 132.
[0021] Differing from the prior art cellular phone 10, the cellular
phone 100 of the present invention contains an ID module 170 formed
on the cover 160 for identifying the cover 160 and a detection port
130 formed on a transceiver 134 (not shown in FIG. 3) for
communicating with the ID module 170 and determining identification
of the cover 160.
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 4, with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is
a functional block diagram of the cellular phone 100 according to
the present invention. The transceiver 134 is used for controlling
operation of the cellular phone 100. The transceiver 134 receives
instructions and data from control software 142 stored in a memory
140, and controls hardware operations of the cellular phone 100.
The transceiver 134 processes input signals from the keypad sensors
128 and the microphone 132, and sends output signals to the speaker
122, the display 124, and one or more selected LEDs from the
backlight LED array 126.
[0023] Every type of cover has its own physical and electrical
properties. The geometry design of different covers could influence
the radio frequency and acoustic performance of the cellular phone.
Besides, depending on the cosmetic design of the cover, a
Man-and-Machine interface (MMI) could also have a corresponding
change associated with the cover. The present invention offers a
method for detecting the identification of the cover 160 and
adjusting operating parameters according to the identity of the
cover 160. When the cover 160 is placed on the internal housing
120, the detection port 130 of the transceiver 134 makes electrical
contact with the ID module 170 of the cover 160. After connection,
the detection port 130 reads an identifier stored in the ID module
170, and sends the identity of the cover 160 to the control
software 142. The control software 142 then updates parameters and
attributes of the cellular phone 100 according to an acoustic
database 144, a power amplification database 146, and an MMI
database 148 stored in the memory 140. These three databases can
also be combined into a single database, but are shown separately
for emphasis and clarity.
[0024] Once the identity of the cover 160 has been established,
operating parameters and attributes can be updated in the cellular
phone 100. The control software 142 searches the acoustic database
144 for coefficients corresponding to the identity of the cellular
phone 100. The control software 142 locates corresponding Finite
Impulse Response (FIR) filter coefficients, and provides the
coefficients to the transceiver 134 for improving acoustics of the
cellular phone 100. Each type of cover has its own acoustic
properties, so identifying the cover provides optimum acoustic
effects whenever a new cover is used.
[0025] Furthermore, updated voltage compensation coefficients can
be provided to the transceiver 134 from the power amplification
database 146 for improving power amplification of the cellular
phone 100. Changing the voltage compensation coefficients is
important because radiated transmission power is different for
different covers. Fine-tuning the voltage compensation coefficients
allows the cellular phone 100 to maximize its wireless
communication capabilities.
[0026] In addition to updating technical parameters such as the FIR
and voltage compensation coefficients, cosmetic and entertaining
attributes can be updated as well. For example, suppose that each
type of cover 160 has its own theme. Covers 160 can have themes
such as Rock and Roll, Sports, etc. Besides changing the design of
the cover 160, the MMI profile can be changed for each type of
cover 160 according to contents of the MMI database 148. With each
MMI profile a variety of different attributes can be controlled
such as key 168 mappings, sets of sounds played through the speaker
122, images to be shown on the display 124, and LEDs from the
backlight LED array 126 to be illuminated. Therefore, changing a
theme of the cellular phone 100 can be accomplished simply by
changing the cover 160.
[0027] The contents of the acoustic database 144 and the power
amplification database 146 can be calculated in a laboratory while
testing the cellular phone 100 with each type of cover 160. Once a
collection of covers 160 has been tested, the acoustic database 144
and the power amplification database 146 can be stored in the
memory 140. Likewise, once MMI attributes have been created for a
collection of covers 160, the MMI database 148 can be stored in the
memory 140. The memory 140 is preferably rewritable non-volatile
memory such as flash memory for easily updating the contents of the
databases 144, 146, 148 along with the control software 142.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating
the present invention method of identifying the cover 160 and
updating parameters and attributes of the cellular phone 100
according to the identity of the cover 160. Steps contained in the
flowchart will be explained below.
[0029] Step 200: Start;
[0030] Step 202: A new cover 160 is placed onto the internal
housing 120 of the cellular phone 100 and the ID module 170 on the
cover makes electrical contact with the detection port 130 of the
transceiver 134;
[0031] Step 204: The detection port 130 of the cellular phone 100
reads the identity of cover 160 from the ID module 170;
[0032] Step 206: According to the identity of the cover 160, the
control software 142 looks up FIR coefficients from the acoustic
database 144, voltage compensation coefficients from the power
amplification database 146, and MMI attributes from the MMI
database 148;
[0033] Step 208: The transceiver 134 is configured with the
parameters and attributes corresponding to the identity of the
cover 160; and
[0034] Step 210: End.
[0035] The present invention uses the detection port 130 to read
the identity of the cover 160 from the ID module 170. Please refer
to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a first embodiment ID module 170A
used to identify the cover 160. The ID module 170A contains a
parallel set of pins P0-P7 that are used for giving an 8-bit
identity to the ID module 170A. Each of the pins can be directly
connected to a voltage source Vcc or ground GND for setting a value
of each bit to "1" or "0", respectively. In the example shown in
FIG. 6, assume pin P7 represents the most significant bit and pin
P0 represents the least significant bit of the identity. Therefore,
the identity stored in the ID module 170A would be "10010110". The
detection port 130 reads the set of pins P0-P7 in parallel for
quickly detecting the identity of the cover 160.
[0036] Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates a second
embodiment ID module 170B used to identify the cover 160. The ID
module 170B contains a resistor R with a precisely measured
resistance. To measure the resistance of resistor R, the detection
port 130 of the transceiver 134 sends a current Iin through the
resistor R, generating an output voltage Vout. The detection port
130 then sends this output voltage Vout to an analog to digital
converter (ADC)
[0037] 150. Based on the value of the output voltage Vout, the ADC
150 outputs a digital value ID_Detect as the identity of the cover
160.
[0038] Please keep in mind that the embodiments of the ID module
170A and 170B shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are used as an example
only, and any structure can be used for the ID module 170 provided
that the detection port 130 of the transceiver 134 is able to
accurately read the identity stored in the ID module 170. In
addition to the parallel interface shown in FIG. 6, a one wire
serial interface could also be used. In this case, the identity of
the cover 160 could be burned into the ID module 170, and the
transceiver 134 could read the identity through the detection port
130 one bit at a time.
[0039] The present invention is not limited to updating
coefficients and attributes for acoustics, voltage compensation,
and MMI. Other parameters that vary depending on the type of cover
used on a cellular phone are also included in the scope of the
present invention. Additional databases can be added, or additional
fields could be added to a single database for storing other types
of parameters.
[0040] In contrast to the prior art cellular phone, the cellular
phone of the present invention is capable of identifying a
detachable cover of a cellular phone and adjusting parameters of
the cellular phone according to the identified cover for optimizing
performance of the cellular phone and for easily changing a theme
of the cellular phone.
[0041] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device may be made while
retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above
disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and
bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *